St. Mary's University
A CATHOLIC AND MARIANIST LIBERAL ARTS INSTITUTION
Society of Mary (Marianist)

History of the Process for the Glorification of William Joseph Chaminade

Diocesan Levels

  1. Diocesan Processes
    1. 1909-1912 in Bordeaux, France
    2. 1909-1912 in Vitoria, Spain
  2. Interrogation Commissions
    1. 1910 in Auch and Paris, France
    2. 1910 in Malines, Belgium
  3. 1911-1914 Examination of his writings
  4. 1911-1912 Process on the Absence of Public Veneration

Vatican City/Rome

December 13, 1916

Decree recognizing the orthodoxy of the writings of the Servant of God

May 18, 1918

Decree introducing the cause in Rome

June 7, 1919

Decree recognizing the absence of public veneration

June 22, 1926

Decree declaring the validity of the diocesan processes

July 21, 1931

Congregation examines the virtues of the Servant of God; decides to hold another session

November 24, 1936

In the second session the Congregation returns the case to the Historical Section for the study of some particular points

1968

Father Vincent Vasey, S.M., Postulator of the Cause, asks the Historical Section to complete the requested study

July 14, 1970

Historical Section completes its report

February 6, 1973

A special meeting of the consulting theologians of the Congregation is favorable to declaring the heroicity of the virtues of the Servant of God

June 5, 1973

The cardinals and bishops of the Congregation agree on the heroicity of virtues

October 18, 1973

Pope Paul VI ratifies the decision and in an official decree announces to the world that "on the strength of all the evidence, the Servant of God William Joseph Chaminade practiced to a heroic degree the theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity toward God and toward his neighbor, and also the cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude."
Declared Venerable.

1995-1996

Exploratory process in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on the reported miracle guided by Father Enrique Torres, S.M., Postulator General

October 11, 1996

Decree validating the diocesan inquiry about the reported miracle

November 20, 1997

First medical consultation by the Congregation

November 19, 1998

Second medical consultation

January 14, 1999

Medical Council considers the healing of Elena Otero as "scientifically inexplicable"

March 1999

Exposition of the Miracle presented to the Congregation

May 11, 1999

Congress of Theologians and Promoter of the Faith considered the cure of Elena Otero as a miracle attributed to Venerable Chaminade

October 5, 1999

Ordinary Congregation of Cardinals and Bishops of the Congregation voted unanimously in favor of the miraculous healing of Elena Otero, Buenos Aires, Argentina

December 20, 1999

Promulgation of the Decree of Approbation of the miracle

September 3, 2000

Pope John Paul II beatifed Blessed William Joseph Chaminade in Rome

2008-2010

GA and Archdiocesan initiation of the process in St. Louis and at the Vatican to authenticate a miraculous cure of Rachel Baumgartner Lozano

Compiled by Brother John Samaha, S.M., Cupertino, Calif.




Daily Scripture  

1 Peter 3:10-11
For "Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it."

Who We Are

A service-oriented, academic and spiritual community boasting a 13-1 student-to-faculty ratio

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One Camino Santa Maria
San Antonio, Texas 78228
210-436-3011